Fenerbahce scores road win at Gran Canaria

Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul had little trouble in cruising to a 64-82 victory at Herbalife Gran Canaria on Thursday night to remain atop the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague standings. Nikola Kalinic led the way for Fenerbahce with 16 points, while Jan Vesely had 13 points, 7 rebounds, 2 steals and 3 blocks. Kostas Sloukas chipped in 11 points, 6 assists and 3 steals and Ali Muhammed tallied 10 points for the winners. Fenerbahce improved to 16-2 with a second straight win after a loss that snapped a 12-game winning streak. Gran Canara has now lost four straight and six out of seven to fall to 6-13 despite a career-high 21 points from Kim Tillie.

The first quarter went back and forth with seven lead changes and D.J. Strawberry scoring 5 points as Gran Canaria went up 12-9. Vesely's three-point play came at the end of three straight lead changes as put Fenerbahce up 15-16. Vesely added another basket and then nailed a rare three-pointer for a 19-24 advantage after 10 minutes. Luke Fischer started the second quarter for the hosts and Albert Oliver's free throws had them within 25-29. However, Fenerbahce began to take over with Kalinic and Joffrey Lauvergne combining for 11 points in a 5-15 surge to pull ahead 30-44. The gap was 32-44 at the break. Fenerbahce started the second half strongly and Melih Mahmutoglu made it 34-49. Tillie took over with 12 straight points and Fischer's dunk ended a 14-4 run to trim the gap to 48-53. Sloukas ended the drought with a three-pointer and Fenerbahce went up 51-56 after 30 minutes. Vesely started the fourth quarter, but Gran Canaria fought to stay close at 54-61. However, Muhammed nailed a three-pointer and Nicolo Melli also hit from long range in a 2-10 spurt to put Fenerbahce up 56-71. Muhammed and Kalinic finished off Gran Canaria for good with threes in a 0-9 spurt in the closing minutes.

Game-changing sequence

With Gran Canaria trailing just 54-61, Ali Muhammed and Nicolo Melli both nailed three-pointers in a 2-10 run to help Fenerbahce establish a 56-71 lead and decide the game.

Vesely from downtown!?!

Jan Vesely nailed a three-pointer at the end of the shot clock late in the first quarter. It was the first made three-pointer for the Fenerbahce big man since January 8, 2016, when he hit a three against Crvena Zvezda mts Belgrade. He missed all three attempts in 2016-17 and his three previous attempts this season in the EuroLeague. Vesely also missed all five attempts in the Turkish League over the past two seasons

18-year-old debut

Aleksander Balcerowski made his debut for Gran Canaria and the 18-year-old Polish center ended the game with a block and dunk in the final seconds to finish with 2 points, 1 rebound and 1 block in 3:23 minutes.

Telling numbers

Fenerbahce connected on 9 of 18 three-pointers (50.0%), while holding Gran Canaria to 5-of-19 shooting (26.3%) from long range.

Next games

Gran Canaria will look to snap its four-game losing streak when it heads on the road to take on Buducnost VOLI Podgorica on Friday. Fenerbahce will return home and face off with Olympiacos Piraeus the day before.

Head Coaches

GARCIA, VICTOR

Herbalife Gran Canaria

"I am happy with our effort. I think we had a really good effort the whole game. We forced Fenerbahce to play 100 percent to win this game. We went into the fourth quarter losing by 5 points, competing really good. I think the difference was the last quarter. They scored the open shots and we were not at the same level as our effort from the first three quarters. But we knew that you have to be perfect the whole game to beat Fenerbahce."

OBRADOVIC, ZELJKO

Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul

"We tried to prepare ourselves knowing that a lot of teams over here struggle and have difficulties to play against Gran Canaria. We tried to understand what was the best of the game of Gran Canaria and I must say that I am satisfied with my team. The players of Gran Canaria never gave up and fought to the end. However, I believe that we deserved to win the game because we played better. It was one more important victory on the road and we need to continue to be at this level for the next games."

Players

FISCHER, LUKE

Herbalife Gran Canaria

"We played against one of the best teams in Europe. We played hard and fought until the end, competing many minutes, so we need to focus on that, the positive things. We played a good game, but you need a perfect game in order to beat a team like this."

KALINIC, NIKOLA

Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul

"We controlled the game really great except for a few moments in the third quarter. We punished all their mistakes on offense. It was a good game with traveling, but I think we reacted good and it was a very nice victory for us."

VESELY, JAN

Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul

"I am happy that we won the game. It was a tough, tough road trip - very long flight, so I am happy that we managed to get the win."